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Sooo, how many of you have had an unpleasant run in with the TACAN antenna between the ladder and NLG? I've heard horror stories about this and vowed not to get bit myself. One of the worst was one of our pilots during his A-10 flight training...I believe he said he got 7 staples in his head this last early spring. When I train the new guys I stress the importance of not going between the ladder and gear if at all possible.

Today however, I got side tracked looking at a possible hydro leak on the swivels above the NLG strut. I even thought to myself as I was raising up...\"I'm in the bad area...I don't want to hit the antenna so be careful!\" then WHAM! Luckily it was a graze and I had my fleece hat on...but dang it still hurt!!!

Funny thing about this airplane, the ugly ones bite! Back in the late 80s and early 90s when I worked F-4E/Gs (\"Double Ugly\") I had plenty of \"Phantom Bites\". Lord knows anybody who worked the Phantom didn't own a shirt that didn't have a tear in the back from the sharp drain tubes everywhere under the belly! Add to that the MLG doors and I even split open my head on a LE slat one time.

Since early this spring when I started my FTD and on several TDYs and working the Hog at home I think this makes the 5th bite I've received. Two bled...and always on my head...lol.

My first bite was at Moody. The gun was exposed since weapons had all of the gun panels open. I stood up under the gun and caught my head on something hard that stuck down lower than everything else. I bled pretty good but not bad enough for stitches.

The next three were on pylons (one bled). Walking under the jet my head seems to be attracted to the LE of the pylons, and even though there's a rubber piece there...it hurts! And now I hit the antenna...oye!

I think all the years working the F-16 I may have had half a dozen Falcon bites...I'm almost there already on the Hog!

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SoWW #2485
Cave Putorium!

I've only drawn blood once on the A-10*, and it was on that antenna. I was brand new at Pope, behind it facing aft, and I pivoted around putting it right into my forehead. It didn't bleed a lot, but it hurt, and I had a small scar for a while.
Normally I keep one hand on the antenna as I move around it (can't lose track of it if I'm touching it) or if I'm crouched down near it, I look up before standing up or waddle back clear of the jet on the ground before I stand up.

*from my head, I'm not counting fingers/knuckles...

Diverted in to Tucson during a thunderstorm, went under the jet to put the gun pin in...Put a gash all the way through my ear...had to fly back to D-M with a handkerchief stuffed in my ear pad to stem the bleeding! Hurt like hell!

Merry Christmas!

Coach

Yeah, my fingers and knuckles bleed a lot too. For some reason though with the Hog it's my head that's receiving the most punishment. I'm almost afraid to look into the mirror at the barber shop when I get my buzz cut to see if it's okay...lol. \"Yeah, I can see all the scars...good cut Mr. Barber\".

Glad to see I'm not alone with the TACAN. Hopefully I'll get better aquainted with the Hog and know when to duck in the future.

**Hand on the antenna for reference is a great idea! Thanks for the tip!

Merry Christmas all!

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SoWW #2485
Cave Putorium!

Weasel Keeper, that antenna has gotten more people than you could imagine. I've seen crew chiefs (multiple locations), loaders (Spangdahlem), electricians (Boise. Bradley), CFT guy with 20 years on the A-10 (Baltimore), avionics (Tucson), pilots (Pope)...and those are just the ones I remember. Some units use a padded cover that, while not foolproof, helps considerably.

OC

OC, we have a padded cover, but I was doing a thruflight insp right after it landed and we hadn't put any covers back on yet.

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SoWW #2485
Cave Putorium!

When I was at DM working EOR one night. Done the same thing- Went to install the gun pin and collected 5 stitches in the head

On the BUFFS, there is a T drain between the forward MLG that would split your skull. EVERYTIME, (10,143 times), I went between the gear, my arm was up shielding me. A fire control guy wanted to launch my jet, so I let him. He didnt put his arm up checking something and got a dozen or so stitches out of the deal.

I had a habit of just slapping the SPR handle open with pressure on it. I did this one night, and there was a safety wire pigtail sticking out that cut my finger in half. The knuckle was exposed at the 1st joint, such a clean/fast cut, it didnt bleed or hurt that much. Quick trip to support for a popsickle stick splint and a bandage and tape, good as new in a few days.
My truck drivers face was priceless- \"Hey Bill- take me to support to get a band aid\" \"Awww, do you have a Boo-Boo?\" \"Ya, check it out, (shoving my exposed knuckle in his face, I thought he was going to faint)

Steve

got bit by that antenna once, not bad though.
F-4 differnt story though. I ran into the external power door one day rt above my left eye went all the way to the bone. Put me flat on my back. Took 7 stiches to seal that one. 3 internal 4 external. Prob went through 2 t-shirts a month while working on it.

F-117 was the only plane I actually worked--I was backshop at Spang. The Traps on the Nighthawk have a crank for locking htem up though, and it's a bit of a cone shape with sharp edges at just the right height. It bled me more than once.

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Evil is evil, no matter how small.

I did it Twice, ,

7 stitches my first time,in 86 and 6 the 2nd time in 89. I didn't say I was Bright.

Goose

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\"Live Free Or Die\"

I got scares on my head from that thing . I remember one time I stoped and look at that thing and bent over and split my head wid open and I felt real stupid at that time but all I can say is accadents happen.At england afb [ home of the flying tigars } we called that a tigar bit and it felt just like one

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Every day is a holliday when you love your job.

Brother Goose.....................my main man ! All those stitches are the reason that you are so ugly. I say it out of love. Haven't we all gotten bit ? Yes me too, but it was one of the LARS antennas that got me one night in Avon Park when I was under the NVG's and the near sightedness scewed my perceptions a wee bit.

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YGBSM !

Go Ugly Early, Just like your Dog after awhile you and your dog start looking like you

So , I started looking like my Jet, we were so Close, She was having a \"Bitchy\" Day because it was cold and rainy and didn't want to fly.

But She wasn't the only one, I had to walk all the way to the AMU with a RAG on my head because RED 2 had to Wait for \"Wiggins\" to Lox a Jet,

I was So Damn I flipped off GIbberish, and walking to the AMU I said \"Screw it!, Broke Red went straight across to the Office Door. I was dripping Blood down my arm and Shirt and it was going down my pant leg.
I left a trail of Blood to the flight office. Old Barney Saw that and rushed me to the Hospital. We went into the ER, And the Med Tech told me to have a seat.
I was not feeling too good by then, annd Barney told the Med Tech
\"Sarge he needs to be Looked at Now!\"
The Tech comes over, and takes the \"Red Rag off my Head and goes \"Where are you bleeding from?' I can;t tell from the Red Rag?\"
Barney pulled my hair back and showed the TECH the Gash in my Head,

He goes \"You'll need to see a Dr, but he's at lunch, I'll get you another Pad to put on it, and don't lean on the Wall\"

Barney went and got a SMSGT and he told the Tech to get me in a Room and Page a Dr!.

The Dr comes in looks at it and tells the SMSGT and this MSGT that had came in \"He needs 7 stiches\" go ahead and sew him up after you clean the wound .
Dr leaves, The MSGT and Barney are the ones who Sticthed me up, They put so much novacane in me at the site trying to deaden it and it just kept running down my neck, I just said \"Sarge just Sew me up\", Thats when this Good Looking Tech came in to take my vitals, I wasn;t feeling anything in my Head (well that one) Then she clean me up , I walked out ,after 3 hours 7 new sticthes, dry bloody shirt and pants and a Date.
Plus I went to Fort Rucker at the end of the Week, Had the Army Hospital take them out, Couldn't of been treated ANY BETTER.
A O-6, 2 Majors and a Capt plus the others all to take out those Stiches.
They found out I was with the 4 A-10's and invited them out for a tour,
They came out the Next day to see the A-10's to get pictures , and of course, We let them sit in the seat to get a picture.

Then I got Lucky that week too at the Bar,

Man it was Fun being Single.

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\"Live Free Or Die\"

Pain is temorary, scars are forever and chicks love attack guys! Especially Army chicks!

Goose is a hero!

Coach

1986 was a GOOD YEAR to be a A-10 CREW CHIEF, and SINGLE!
I guess it was my Last \"Fling\",

But Your Right Coach, When they find out \"You Work on A-10's\" or can \"give them a TOUR
It was like CAT NIP, It was like having an :Open House,

Goose

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\"Live Free Or Die\"